Three East European Countries Reply to Histadrut Appeal for Aid in Emigration of Jews

November 8, 1949

TEL AVIV (Nov. 7)

The Histadrut executive, disclosing that it had sent cables three times during September and October to trade unions in East European countries asking their assistance in expediting the emigration of Israel-bound Jews, reported today that it had received replies from Rumania, Poland and Czechoslovakia. Replies have not been received, it was added, from the Soviet Union and Hungary.

The reply from the Central Trade Union Federation of Rumania said it was unable to deal with the request and suggested that the matter be handled through Israel-Rumanian diplomatic channels. The Czech and Polish trade unions displayed a positive attitude in their replies, it was reported. The Histadrut also said that on Oct. 9 it made a direct appeal to Vasili Kuznetsov, president of the Soviet Trade Unions Federation, stating that Hungary had failed to reply to its massage and that Rumania’s answer was unsatisfactory.